It is with great sadness that I share with all of our membership the departure of two good friends. First Joyce Grooms long time manager of ratings and memberships with headquarters is retiring April 4th. Joyce has always been there to help all of us in sorting out various problems and in providing information in a timely and professional manner. We wish her much happiness to come!

I am also very sad to report that our CEO Mike Cavanaugh will also be leaving USA Table Tennis. Mike has accepted a position with USA Team Handball and after much deliberation and a heavy heart, has decided to leave table tennis.

Mike stepped into the role of Interim CEO in 2007 during the USATT’s reorganization and reformation period mandated by the US Olympic Committee. Following that we did a nationwide search for a CEO and of all the candidates that stepped forward, Mike was considered the best one. Seven years later we still think he is the best. Mike helped shape our organization into a national governing body (NGB) that developed increased credibility with the USOC, and one which focused on larger scale issues related to Olympic medal attainment. While we have not achieved that goal yet, we are closer than we ever have been in the past, and with the right amount of support and resources we will eventually get there. These efforts while the culmination of efforts from many people over the years, also includes much from Mike Cavanaugh.

Mike has been a tireless professional who has championed the cause of table tennis in the United States and USATT will indeed miss him. We wish Mike much success in his new endeavor.

USATT will be appointing an interim CEO within the next week to manage the day to day duties of the organization over the period of time that it takes to compile a nationwide CEO search including formation of a task force charged with this duty, advertising for the position, receiving applications, developing a short list of candidates, interviewing the candidates, making an offer, and allowing time for relocation of the new hire to the National Office. All of these efforts may easily take us until the Fall of this year to fully complete.

Let’s wish Mike and Joyce much happiness in their life after table tennis.